Senecio plant named &#39;Sennova 0012015&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Senecio  plant, ‘Sennova 0012015’, characterized by its leaves that are broadly ovate in shape, unlobed with wavy crenate margins, silvery white in color due to its densely woolly tomentose surface, its foliage that retains its coloration for a long period during the growing season, its ease of propagation, and its non-flowering habit.

Botanical classification: Senecio candicans.

Variety denomination: ‘Sennova 0012015’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Senecioplant, botanically known as Senecio candicans ‘Sennova 0012015’ and willbe referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Sennova 0012015’. Thenew cultivar represents a new dusty miller grown as an annual forbedding and container use.

The new cultivar resulted from on ongoing breeding program by theInventor at his nursery in Puerto Montt, Chile with the objective ofselecting a new cultivars of Senecio candicans with unique leaf shapesand colors and plant habits. ‘Sennova 0012015’ arose from openpollination of an unnamed and unpatented plant of Senecio candicans andtherefore the male parent is unknown. The Inventor selected the newcultivar as a single unique plant from the resulting seedlings in thesummer of 2010.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished bydivision in Puerto Montt, Chile in May of 2011 by the Inventor. Asexualpropagation by division, root cuttings and tissue culture has determinedthat the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of ‘Sennova 0012015’. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Sennova 0012015’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Senecio.

-   -   1. ‘Sennova 0012015’ exhibits leaves that are broadly ovate and        unlobed with wavy crenate margins.    -   2. ‘Sennova 0012015’ exhibits leaves that are silvery white in        color due to its densely woolly tomentose surface.    -   3. ‘Sennova 0012015’ exhibits leaves that retains its coloration        for a long period during the growing season.    -   4. ‘Sennova 0012015’ exhibits a moderately vigorous growth        habit.    -   5. ‘Sennova 0012015’ has been shown to be readily propagated.    -   6. ‘Sennova 0012015’ has not been observed to flower.

The female parent of ‘Sennova 0012015’, differs from ‘Sennova 0012015’in having a slower growth habit and in having leaves that are less whitein color with poorer color retention during the growth season and thatdiffers in shape. ‘Sennova 0012015’ can also be compared to cultivars ofdusty miller; Brachyglottis greyi ‘Sunshine’ (not patented) and Seneciocineraria ‘Silver Dust’ (not patented). ‘Sunshine’ is similar to‘Sennova 0012015’ in having foliage that is silver-grey in color.‘Sunshine’ differs from ‘Sennova 0012015’ in having leaves that are muchsmaller in size, in having a woody shrub plant habit and in being veryfloriferous. ‘Silver Dust’ is similar to ‘Sennova 0012015’ in havingfoliage that is silver-grey in color. ‘Silver Dust’ differs from‘Sennova 0012015’ in having leaves that are pinnately lobed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Senecio. The photographs weretaken of a six month-old plant of ‘Sennova 0012015’ as grown in a coldgreenhouse in a 3-liter container in Lisse, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 is a view of a plant of ‘Sennova 0012015’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a mature leaf of ‘Sennova0012015’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a young leaf of‘Sennova 0012015’. The colors in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Senecio.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of six month-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown in 3-liter circular containers in a greenhouse inLisse, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as ithas not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with the 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Has not been observed to bloom to date.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial, upright and broadly            spreading.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 50 cm in height and 60 cm            in width as a six month-old plant.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 8.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Division, root cuttings, and tissue culture.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Root development.—6 to 8 weeks from a rooted cutting or a            tissue culture plug.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem color.—144A and covered with tomentose NN155C in color.        -   Stem size.—Average of 6 cm in length and 9 mm in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Very densely wooly and tomentose NN155C in            color.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, strong, 1 basal branches,            pinching not required, but will improve branching.        -   Internode length.—Average of 1.1 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 17.2 cm in length and 16 cm in width.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 6 per lateral branch.        -   Leaf base.—Broad attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Rounded.        -   Leaf margin.—Crennulate and wavy.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface color; 146D, densely            covered with woolly tomentose 194D in color, lower surface            color; vein surface color not visible due to densely woolly            tomentose, N155A and NN155D in color.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface has a slight sheen, both sides            densely woolly tomentose N155A and NN155D in color.        -   Leaf substance.—Leathery.        -   Leaf color.—Leaf color is defined by the very dense woolly            tomentose, young upper and lower surface; color between            N155A and NN155D, mature upper surface; color between N155A            and 198D, mature lower surface; color between N155A and            NN155D.        -   Petioles.—Sulcate in shape, average of 10.8 cm in length and            1.1 cm in diameter, upper surface; 146D in color with            surface is densely covered with woolly tomentose 194D in            color, lower surface; color defined by wooly tomentose            surface N155A and NN155D in color.        -   Foliage fragrance.—Mild mint scent if crushed.-   Flower description: Flowering has not be observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Senecio plant designated‘Sennova 0012015’ as described and illustrated herein.